Happy 6 Months Nantucket

Today is my 6 month Anniversary of moving to this beautiful island I now call home!

And what a 6 months it has been!  So, in honor of my anniversary with Nantucket, I present to you:

MY TOP 6 FAVORITE MOMENTS SO FAR…

1. DAFFODIL FESTIVAL

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2. WINE FESTIVAL

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3. BOSTON POPS CONCERT

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4. MAKING SUCH AMAZING FRIENDS

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5. BEING CHARLIE BROWN

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6. WORKING FOR MILLY & GRACE

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Here’s to the next 6 months Nantucket!

See you on Tuesdays!

Halloween Costume Inspiration

At first, I thought it was way too early to start blogging about Halloween!  I mean, it’s still September!!!

Then I went into the store and realized all of the candy was out, everything was orange and black, tinsel kitties ;) and paper ghosts were in the aisles and before you know it, you will be having this conversation the night before that Halloween Costume Party you are attending:

You: “Hey, we have that costume party tomorrow night.”

Spouse or friend: “Oh yea… I forgot all about it.  How is it the end of October already?”

You: “What do you want to go as?”

Spouse or friend: “I don’t know.  Wish we would have planned farther ahead. I guess I will just be a sexy cat again. Next year let’s make sure we think about it prior to the night before so we can be like those “super cool” people who have themed outfits together!”

Have you ever had this conversation or something like it?

Well, I love Halloween!  Mostly because I love coming up with elaborate costume ideas!  Here are some of my favorite halloween costumes my husband and I have come up with over the last couple of years!

BERT & ERNIE

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VANITY SMURF & BRAINY SMURF

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CHARLIE BROWN & LINUS

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SHERLOCK HOLMES & DR. WATSON

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As you can tell, we go all out creating costumes, especially those masks!

It’s actually easier than you would think!  I will share our secret about how we made these Bert & Ernie masks!

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  What You Will Need:

Large White Poster board, X-ACTO knife, Acrylic Paint, Super Glue and a Velcro strap (That’s it!)

How To Do it:

1.  Cut your poster board in the shape of the characters’ face.

2.  Cut a square for your head somewhere. (We chose to do it in Bert and Ernie’s mouths)

3.  Draw the character’s face.  (Most cartoon characters have fairly standard shapes that make up their face, so even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you can still do it!

4.  Paint the character’s face.  Acrylic paint from a craft store works great and it is very inexpensive.

5.  Add Hair: We got a black wig from a costume store and cut it up and glued it to the poster board.

6.  Add the velcro strap to the back: Super glue a velcro strap in the back that will go around your head!

7. Have Fun!

Halloween is only a month away, so start thinking NOW about your costume ideas!  It will be here before you know it!

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See you on Tuesdays! ;)

My Dog Simba

Growing up, I didn’t have a pet.  The only pet I had was a stuffed one named Mutzy and I loved him!

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I didn’t have a pet because my mom was concerned about having an animal in her house.  (I was so deprived – Just kidding Mommy!)  I definitely inherited some fussiness from my mother.  I like things clean and organized that’s for sure. I didn’t ever think I could have a pet for the same reasons my mom didn’t let me have one!   However, 4 years ago I met a dog named Chandler.  He was an 8 year old shih-tzu who was the cutest and nicest dog ever!  Within 3 months of meeting Chandler, we made the quick decision to get our own shih-tzu puppy!

So, meet my dog Simba!

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(This was taken the first day we got him 4 years ago! I immediately fell in love.)

We named him “Simba” because Shih-tzu means “Lion Dog” in Chinese and also because back in the day, shih-tzus were dogs bred for royalty; they warmed the feet of the Chinese Emperors.

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Simba was so small when we first got him that he fit into a Build – A – Bear sweatshirt.  (I was THAT person who dressed my dog!) Ha Ha!

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Here is a funny story about me and Simba!  James and I didn’t sleep much when we first got Simba.  I didn’t realize it was kind of like having a baby in some ways!  So, I would like to preface this story with: I was very over-tired.  Anyway, Simba was a very rambunctious puppy, which surprised us since shih-tzus are usually low maintenance.  (He was a 90 lb black lab in an 8 lb white shih tzu’s body!)  He was always growling and biting.  James, having had multiple pets growing up, said that this was normal for a puppy. However, my friend told me that a shih-tzu actually bit her when she was younger and she had to have her lip repaired. I freaked out and started searching the internet to see if we just got a breed that was known for biting people.  Later that night, my husband was looking at the computer and for some reason clicked on my internet history. He looked at me and said, “Ummm did you google “Killer Attack shih-tzu” earlier today?”  I slowly responded, “Yes. Yes I did…”

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I am a little eccentric and dramatic, I know!  It turned out that the dog wasn’t even a shih-tzu that bit her!

There were a lot of things I didn’t know about having a dog.  Maybe you dog-lovers will appreciate them!

1.  I didn’t know I would talk to my dog like he was a person.  The funny thing is I actually think he understands everything I am saying.  He tilts his head like he’s listening and going to respond.

2.  I didn’t know I would like the smell of my dog even when he doesn’t smell that good.

3.  I didn’t know dogs can get mad  at you and ignore you.

4.  I didn’t know how much I stuck to a certain a routine every day until I had a dog.  He knows my routine better than I do.

5.  I didn’t know how manipulative dogs can be to get what they want.

6.  I didn’t know I would scold my dog like he was my firstborn.

7.  I didn’t know dogs can tell when you are sad and cheer you up!

8.  I didn’t know I would have multiple nicknames for my dog.  Simba’s include Smushy, Bugs A Million, Murph, Moby and Catherine Zeta (Don’t ask about any of these!)   I think he has an identity crisis because we call him so many different names!

9.  I didn’t know how easy it was to teach dogs tricks.  Simba learned a whole bunch of tricks in just one day and still remembers them now!

10.  I didn’t know how attached I would get to a dog!  He was there during all my wedding planning breakdowns.  (Now if that isn’t man’s best friend, I don’t know who is! :)

Simba is almost 4 years old now and I could not imagine my life without him!

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See you on Tuesdays!